I’m a Facebook junkie and totally okay with it! I think it’s one of the best ways to stay in touch with folks across the miles. I also think it’s fun to view pictures of friends and relatives who I grew up with, but don’t see often.
If you’re on Facebook, I bet you’ve seen some of your friends post facts about themselves. You know: Who were you named after? What color are your socks? What’s your favorite food?
One question showing up in these polls is: When was the last time you cried?
My answer to this question is usually sometime within the last few days.
I’ll admit, I’m a crier! I cry at movies; I cry when someone is happy; I cry when someone is sad, and I cry at worship. Heck, I even cry when someone wins the showcase on the TV show, “The Price is Right.” Does this make me a weak person? Some folks might think so, but I disagree.
Research shows that crying is a sign of strength regardless of what society says. It takes strength to show vulnerability!
[bctt tweet=”It’s okay to cry. It’s important to cry.” username=”womenoftheelca”]
I like this Washington Irving quote: “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.”
Crying makes us feel better! It’s rare that crying will make you feel worse than what made you cry in the first place. It is a release of pent-up energy and emotions–even positive energy and emotions.
It’s okay to cry. It’s important to cry. A good cry just might be what you need! Those tears might make people around you feel uncomfortable, but holding back tears can suppress your feelings. Pretty soon you might not be able to cry.
The next time you hear Host Drew Carey tell someone that they’ve just won the showcase showdown on “The Price is Right,” go ahead and cry! The next time you sing that song in church that brings back a special memory, go ahead and cry! The next time you’re not sure what or how to feel, go ahead and cry! Cry with freedom and pride, knowing you are doing what is right and natural to promote your physical and mental wellbeing.
Lisa Plorin is a first-term Women of the ELCA executive board member from Upham, N.D. If you do cry often, the best place to do it is with 3,000 women of faith at the Tenth Triennial Gathering in Minneapolis, July 13-16.
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Photo: Sarah Horrigan | CC BY-NC 2.0